Natalie Portman: Harvard grads should take risks

Natalie Portman has urged Harvard University graduates to take more ”risks.”

The actress star has admitted if she had realized how difficult and how ”woefully unprepared” she was to dance the ballet scenes in Black Swan – a performance that earned her the Oscar for Best Actress in 2010 – she might have declined the role, but she strongly believes success can only come from testing yourself.

Speaking to senior graduates at Harvard’s Class Day in Cambridge, Massachusetts, yesterday, she said: ”The point is, if I had known my own limitations, I never would have taken the risk. And the risk led to one of my greatest personal and professional achievements.”

The 33-year-old Hollywood star – who graduated from the college in 2003 – insisted the senior college leavers, should ”accept” the fact they may not be as experienced or knowledgeable about something when they start their professional careers but urged them to use it to their advantage.

She added: ”Make use of the fact that you don’t doubt yourself too much right now because, as we get older, we get more realistic. Accept your lack of knowledge and use it as your asset.”

Not only did Portman gain an Oscar from taking the chance on Black Swan, she also met her husband Benjamin Millepied – who was the choreographer for the ballet movie – on set in early 2009. The couple had a son Aleph Portman-Millepied in June 2011, and were married August 2012.

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Comments & Discussion

James • May 29, 2015 @ 2:59 PM

Forget Harvard Grads. Everyone should take risks. Life isnt about waiting. It’s about doing. Life is going to hit hard. But it’s not how hard you get hit. It’s about how you get back up. Thats how winning is done.